Francoise Mbango – The Ultimate Revenge of Cameroon’s “Capricious” and “Unpatriotic” Star Athlete

By Dibussi Tande

“Francoise Mbango does not respect Cameroon. She has dragged Cameroon through the mud on numerous occasions” Ange Sama, President of the Cameroon Athletic Federation (2005)

“I don't know if I had to obtain the permission of the athletics federation or that of Ange Sama before having a baby... This is insulting!” F. Mbango (2008)

Yesterday, Cameroonian triple jump champion, Francoise Mbango Etone, won the Olympic gold medal in her discipline with the second-longest jump in history – 15.39 meters – just 11 centimeters off the world record. This was Mbango’s second consecutive Olympic gold medal.
 

Four years ago in Athens, she produced one of the finest championship series in history, recording five jumps over 15 meters, twice hitting the winning distance of 15.30 to reclaim her African triple jump record along with the gold.

Click here to watch the Olympics Triple Jump finals

Francoise Mbango’s win brings to an end her fiery and sometimes vicious four-year war of words – and wills – with Cameroonian authorities who accused her of being ungrateful, arrogant, greedy and even unpatriotic. In fact, only three months ago, she wasn’t certain to participate in the Olympic games because she was under an indefinite suspension by the Cameroonian Athletics Federation...

Prima donna or free spirit?
Mbango’s problems with Cameroonian authorities began immediately after the 2004 Olympics when she took 17 days to return to Cameroon – a delay considered too long by government officials impatient to milk the gold medal for political purposes. She again infuriated officials when she returned to Cameroon unannounced in the early hours of September 18, 2008 thereby depriving government functionaries of a chance to bask in the limelight. Although it had been intimated that she was urgently wanted back in Cameroon for an audience with President Biya, she was forced to wait for another five months before being received by the president in February 2005. Mbango was promised a special bonus of 80 million Francs CFA (20 million FCFA for each year) to allow her prepare adequately for Beijing 2008 – unlike in the run-up to Athens when she was abandoned to her own devices and coached by her junior sister.

Relations with Cameroonian authorities, particularly the Cameroonian athletics federation took a turn for the worse when Mbango, who was expected to lead Cameroon’s delegation to the 10th IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Helsinki, Finland, informed officials just hours before the delegation’s departure that she would not make the trip. She claimed that that she was not psychologically ready for the competition because of the condition of her mother who had been diagnosed with cancer. The Athletics Federation would have none of it, especially after it was fined $4,400 dollars.

Mbango did not take part in any athletic competition for the rest of the year, save for a meet in Zurich where she came in 6th. She reappeared again only in April 2006 to give an incendiary interview to Radio France International in which she complained about the shabby treatment of Cameroonian authorities and their refusal to honor the 80 million FCFA pledge made by the president. 

I am upset... orders were given in public by the highest authority in Cameroon…they openly promised me many things... They themselves know what has become of those promises today… I was very distressed and I have decided to take a step back… to take care of myself… and to deal with those who gave me and are giving me a hand so that I can continue with my career.

Records of the IAAF Show that Mbango kept to her promise and did not take part in any competition for the rest of 2006 and all of 2007. During this period, she had a baby, leading many to wonder if she would ever compete again.

Another No-show
Even though she was away from the spotlight, Mbango would be at the center of yet another controversy in June 2007 when her name was not included on the list of athletes selected by the Cameroon Athletics Federation to take part in the All African Games in Algiers. The federation argued that Mbango had not met the minimum requirements for taking part in the games. The federation’s president, however, intimated that her absence was due to her attitude when he told reporters that “Francoise Mbango does not respect Cameroon. She has rubbed Cameroon in mud on numerous occasions”. The federation was eventually pressured to overturn its decision.

To the consternation of everyone, Mbango who had allegedly been training in Paris, inexplicably failed to show up in Algiers. Mbango’s no-show in Algiers was the final straw in her tumultuous relationship with the federation. On September 25, 2007, the disciplinary committee of the Cameroon Athletics Federation, charged Mbango with “contempt and disrespectful behavior” and suspended her indefinitely from all national and international competitions. The committee stipulated that the suspension would be in effect until such a time when the athlete justified her absence from the 2005 Helsinki Games and 2007 African Games, return the money that was given to her for the All African Games, and apologize to the federation. The suspension was announced shortly after the Ministry of Sports finally gave her 38 million francs as part of the 80 million promised in 2005.

Mbango refused to apologize or appear before the disciplinary and accused federation officials of being callous:

“I don't know if I had to obtain the permission of the athletics federation or that of Ange Sama before having a baby... It is inhuman to demand that a female athlete, an Olympic champion for that matter, who takes a break from competition and returns after giving birth... be brought before a disciplinary commission. It is insulting!”

The Denouement
Even with the suspension hanging over her head, Mbango showed up for the national athletics competition in Yaounde April 2008 which were also the trials for the African Athletics Championship scheduled for Ethiopia in May. She was allowed to take part in the early stages of the triple jump during which she met the  required 13 meter jump for the African championship. She was eventually she kicked out of the competition on the orders of the the President of the Athletics federation who insisted that a suspended athlete could not take part in the competition.

The standoff between Mbango and the federation continued until April 22 when the athletics federation announced that it had lifted the suspension “in spite of the blatant indiscipline of the athlete, Mbango Etone Françoise, her contempt for the Cameroon Athletics Federation, the National Olympics Committee, and government authorities…”

The “capricious and bellicose” Mbango accepted the olive branch, and explained that there had been “too many misunderstandings”. She offered her “sincere apologies” to the Cameroonian people, and promised repeat her gold winning performance in Beijing.

One last demand
Mbango went on to win the gold medal at the African championship in Ethiopia, thereby winning her ticket for the Olympics. She however had one last ace up her sleeve before heading off to Beijing. While the Cameroonian delegation was already in Beijing, Mbango flew in to Yaounde and requested that the Ministry of Sports hand over her 25 million FCFA participation bonus. With the Olympics barely a few days away, the the Ministry of Sports acquiesced without a fight. Although officials at the Athletics Federation applauded the speedy resolution of the issue, they nonetheless complained about the “blackmail” that surrounded the whole affair. “We should not get into a power struggle with government”, pouted one official.

Before boarding the plane for Beijing, Mbango promised to bring back the gold medal to Cameroon. “I am 100 per cent confident” she bragged.

The rest is history…

Now we wait for the next – and inevitable! –  chapter in the never ending saga of the world class athlete who is determined to do things her way and of Cameroonian officials who're also determined to force her to submit to the demands or diktat of the “superior interest of the nation”.

Comments

[Samira Edi]

Mola Dibussi,
Thanks for the very well-crafted and comprehansive article. Françoise's story typifies what talented Cameroonians are facing; those who want to give to the country, but are denied the opportunity. Either by the corrupt, greedy, and egotistical acts of those in charge, or simply the callousness of incompetent nitwits who fail to see the woods for the tree. They should be grateful that an athlete of her international standing has not defected to a country like France, where she resides, or the US, which are readily throwing their golden doors open, to welcome talents of her class from every corner of the globe, and throwing the red carpet in the bargain.

Cameroonian authorities are the ones who are unpatriotic; because their greed and egos stand in the way of progress.
Welldone to the golden girl, the long-suffering Champion who epitomizes our collective struggles.

[Mishe Fon]

Kudos to Carlotte Mbango. The authorities asked for what ever treatment they are getting from these talented young athletes. I wish there were more Charlottes. It took me a few minutes to convince then Minister of Sports Joseph Owona(through one of his ex) to be appointed, same day "Secretaire General de FECANATATION du Mfoundi". Very lucrative job "selling slots" to whatever family wanted their progeny to go and study abroad. Can you imagine someone who cannot swim, knows practically nothing on Olympic Competetions...deciding who is more "competent" to represent Cameroon in a world class competetion?
Its a total hoax.
Charlotte, go girl, give them as much wahala as you can.

[Ma Mary]

Ms Mbango has options other than the ungrateful Camerounese. She could have defected to eh China for example.

[Pa Njakri]

Another bizarre but not surprising tale from that land of the weird called Paul Biya's Cameroon.

This contradiction of resentment, contempt and envy mixed with admiration has been a distinguishing characteristic of the new culture of Cameroon with regards to successful people in all areas, whether it is sports or academics or music. One almost gets the concrete feeling that Cameroonians do not actually like to see each other succeed.

As I always say, what is new? Is it any wonder that if you are good at anything the last place you want to be is Cameroon as you risk being trashed and discouraged and ultimately destroyed. We have a culture today that works overtime to discourage ambition, thriving and shooting for the stars except of the fake feymen type of success that we worship. Honest success that comes from individual hardwork that cannot be politicised, where someone cannot exploit is not appreciated in this corrupt country. Samuel Eto'o is alternately admired and resented for his millions. I am sure behind all the piss-offness of the sport authorities in Cameroon about Charlotte is the fact that someone has not figured out a way to chop her money that she makes from her track meets abroad. Knowing Camer well, if they cannot eat from exploiting you,they would then destroy you.

Brava, brava Charlotte!!

Pa Njakri

[Eboko Enange]

I really enjoyed the article and the comments above. Very apropos for the most part.

However... CHARLOTTE.. Mbango is a Cameroonian singer/musician.

FRANCOISE... Mbango Etone is our golden indomitable lion girl. Get it right people!

[arachesostufo gab]

Big Francoise, complimenti da Venezia

[Marco]

Bravo to Francoise a mother,who after all these resentments from the poorly Managed athletic federation could still do much better.Shame na their own.Bravo again Mbango

[Nyoyo]

BEIJING, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Cameroon's Francoise Mbango Etone successfully defended her Olympic gold medal in triple jump with a jump of 15.39 giving her victory at the Bird's Nest Sunday.
Russian Tatyana Lebedeva won the silver medal while Greece's Hrysopiyi Devetzi, silver medallist in Athens, had to settle for bronze.
Mbango Etone, who coaches herself and trains with her sister, became Cameroon's first individual Olympic gold medallist when she won in Athens in 2004.
"It's the best performance of my life. I am so happy," she said.
"My sports career has been very different from other people. Sometimes when one is African you need discipline. Some people consider us lesser than Europeans. I don't have a sponsor, I train by myself.
"It's not the sponsorship that motivates me, but I want to leave my name in the world...I wonder if I could find a sponsor who could help me and recognise I'm a two-time Olympic champion," she said.
The 32-year-old African spent almost two years out of the sport due to injury and after giving birth, produced her winning jump on her second attempt.

[Dr Oliver Birnso Verbe]

I ,honestly ,cannot understand why the Cameroonian authorities feel that we all owe them respect when they themselves do not respect the fundamental rights of citizens.They are only ready to exploit the citizens for their selfish political and financial gains.They grab all that come their way.They kill and burry talents.No doubt,we cannot develop.It takes the guts of FRANCOIS MBANGO to shut them up and shake them off.I wonder what spell they have cast on us that we fail to reason and succumb to their caprices.
Once more, thanks a lot our Golden Champion for honoring yourself and your country and putting those tricksters and bandits to shame.

[Chief Bisong Etahoben]

Hi Tande,
A good piece you wrote here. I just wanted to update you and readers on Mbango. At a press conference in the Yaounde Hilton yesterday, Mbango did reveal that she received the 80 million FCFA from President Biya which enabled her train for Beijing. As concerns her delaying her flight to Yaounde in order to avoid government officials, we all know she did not hire the plane that brought her home so it could not have deliberately delayed departure for Yaounde on Mbango's say-so.
We all agree that Mbango was shabily treated and some of us were looking forward to her asking for a pound of flesh from the body of the Athletics Federation President Mr. Sama but at her press conference of yesterday, she surprised most journalists by saying she had no problems with the federation and even thanked it for having contributed towards her victory in Beijing.
Sports diplomacy you may say.

[UnitedstatesofAfrica]

Ma Mary, I see you are still hanging around...preaching your gospel which has fallen on deaf eyes

Have you seen the persecution Mbango, a fine athlete, is facing? have you seen? ok! is she Southern Cameroonian? eh? is she from Southern Cameroons? I don't need to elaborate. Self-explanatory

As for the Cameroon government, I hope her success shames you. You have butchered all of your people...even when their efforts bring fame to the country, you still butcher them down.

I am also surprised that Madam Mbango doesn't have a sponsor. The black skin is really a curse...if she was a white American, she would have left Beijing, a full-fledged star...with sponsors and TV slots lined up for her.

I am remarkably impressed by the fact she trains herself...wow! just wow! this woman needs to be inducted into a hall of fame or something...if Cameroon ever deciding to have one ( and I highly doubt they will)